When Everton beat Watford 2-0 in the FA Cup final of
1984, Kevin Ratcliffe became the youngest captain since Bobby Moore (23 years
previously) to lift the famous trophy. That match signalled the start of the
most successful period in the club's history. In the next three seasons, Ratcliffe
skippered Everton to the European Cup-Winners' Cup, two League Titles and
two more FA Cup Finals.

It so nearly didn't happen. After impressing against the
formidable Joe Jordan on his debut at Old Trafford in 1980, Ratcliffe spent
two years yo-yo-ing in and out of the side and might have left for Ipswich
after a difference of opinion with manager Howard
Kendall. However, in December of 1982, he claimed a first-team place for
good, and from then on it all happened very quickly: within a year he was
made team captain, and soon after that was representing Wales.

All the trophies
came in the 3½ seasons after he made the captain's armband
his. There might well have been another even bigger cup  in 1985 Everton
were unquestionably the best side in England, and as Champions they stood
every chance of winning the European Cup the following season. Cruelly, they
were denied their opportunity by the post-Heysel ban on English clubs in
Uefa competitions.

While Ratcliffe was a footballer of limited natural ability,
such were his pace, reading of and general approach to the game that this
became irrelevant. It was his speed that caught the eye most  even
if the Everton offside trap was breached, he was often able to turn and catch
the intruder; indeed, they used to say you could tell the day after a match
if he'd been playing as the pitch would be covered in scorchmarks.

He was
predominantly left-footed, and his touch on the ball was only average, but
he easily overcame these by concentrating on doing the simple things well
and not elaborating unnecessarily. Neither was he dominant in the air, being
competent rather than competitive, but when he played alongside such aerial
battering-rams as Derek Mountfield and Dave Watson,
he didn't really have to be. Nevertheless, while Kevin Ratcliffe is an Everton
legend of the highest order. Had he been a more adept footballer, his name
would probably be mentioned with the same reverence as Bobby Moore.

After leaving Everton, he went to Scotland and played
for a short spell with Dundee before returning to England and managing Chester
City to the 1995-96 playoffs. He is another in a long line of ex-Evertonians
who have gone into management, and another who before long may well be tipped
to return to Goodison as manager at some stage.